Review of the Helios 500

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Comments

  • Red-Sand
    Red-Sand ACE Posts: 1,892 Pathfinder
    TenTen1 said:
    oh wow, that's really cool. How did you make the background and everything?
    Background for what?
    - Hotel Hero
  • Saad98
    Saad98 Member Posts: 60 Devotee WiFi Icon
    Congratulations on your new laptop buddy. If you’re giving away any of your older ones lemme knowXD 
  • _albie_
    _albie_ Member Posts: 44 Devotee WiFi Icon
    edited June 2019
    Red-Sand said:
    d3dx9 said:
    Great overview master, but how did Acer decrease the Temp like this? With i9 CPU!

    5 heat pipes + quality thermal paste + dual exhaust ports per fan = A well oiled machine 😎
    I disagree! When I play FPS (all settings to maximum) I see 97C !! (and that's with a laptop cooler! Without the cooler the laptop would insta-shutdown)

    this is from yesterday

  • mankvl
    mankvl Member Posts: 51 Devotee WiFi Icon
    _albie_ said:
    Red-Sand said:
    d3dx9 said:
    Great overview master, but how did Acer decrease the Temp like this? With i9 CPU!

    5 heat pipes + quality thermal paste + dual exhaust ports per fan = A well oiled machine 😎
    I disagree! When I play FPS (all settings to maximum) I see 97C !! (and that's with a laptop cooler! Without the cooler the laptop would insta-shutdown)

    this is from yesterday

    Yours is i9... 
  • xapim
    xapim ACE Posts: 7,257 Pathfinder
    edited June 2019
    _albie_ said:
    Red-Sand said:
    d3dx9 said:
    Great overview master, but how did Acer decrease the Temp like this? With i9 CPU!

    5 heat pipes + quality thermal paste + dual exhaust ports per fan = A well oiled machine 😎
    I disagree! When I play FPS (all settings to maximum) I see 97C !! (and that's with a laptop cooler! Without the cooler the laptop would insta-shutdown)

    this is from yesterday

    If youre having those temps on your H500 you have a bad thermal paste have it repasted with a proper thermal paste and all the issues will be gone because you have the best of the beast in in laptop gaming cooling so far except probably the new 2019 predators :) hopefully


    https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/11532543

    UserBenchmarks: Game 43%, Desk 61%, Work 40%
    CPU: Intel Core i5-7300HQ - 63.5%
    GPU: Nvidia GTX 1050-Ti (Mobile) - 41.9%
    SSD: WDC WDS200T2B0B-00YS70 2TB - 71.4%
    HDD: WD WD10SPZX-00HKTT0 1TB - 93.7%
    RAM: Kingston HyperX DDR4 2666 C15 2x16GB - 76.8%
    MBD: Acer Predator G3-572

    I'm not an Acer employee. (just here to help in the best way i can)
    If my answer fixed you issue please accept it for any other users who search for it would find it quickly thanks :)
    If you want to learn more about undervolting/optimizing windows join the Predator fb group and youtube channel:

    Owner/Admin (HOTEL HERO/Red-Sand/Opoka Opoka)
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/PredatorHelios300
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNJwGUHxSJ8FKqAhnOqQuAw
    Acer support:
    https://www.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/service-contact
    http://www.acer.com/worldwide/support/  


  • Mvchiato
    Mvchiato Member Posts: 6

    Tinkerer

    Does the i7 version of this laptop come with the ssd raided? I’m thinking about buying it and have been looking at upgrade options - particularly the hdd to ssd and having the OS on the new SSD and wanted to know if that would be a problem. I don’t know much about laptops and upgrading besides what I’ve learned from watching hours of laptop/pc videos on YouTube.
  • Unkn0wn1
    Unkn0wn1 Member Posts: 5

    Tinkerer

    Mvchiato said:
    Does the i7 version of this laptop come with the ssd raided? I’m thinking about buying it and have been looking at upgrade options - particularly the hdd to ssd and having the OS on the new SSD and wanted to know if that would be a problem. I don’t know much about laptops and upgrading besides what I’ve learned from watching hours of laptop/pc videos on YouTube.
    There are a few different configurations of the i7-8750H version, but the most common one has a 512GB NVME SSD + 1TB SSD. So no RAID out-of-the-box, but you can always add a second NVME SSD (the one that comes with the Helios 500 is pretty fast) and choose to configure RAID via those two.
  • Mvchiato
    Mvchiato Member Posts: 6

    Tinkerer

    Unkn0wn1 said:
    Mvchiato said:
    Does the i7 version of this laptop come with the ssd raided? I’m thinking about buying it and have been looking at upgrade options - particularly the hdd to ssd and having the OS on the new SSD and wanted to know if that would be a problem. I don’t know much about laptops and upgrading besides what I’ve learned from watching hours of laptop/pc videos on YouTube.
    There are a few different configurations of the i7-8750H version, but the most common one has a 512GB NVME SSD + 1TB SSD. So no RAID out-of-the-box, but you can always add a second NVME SSD (the one that comes with the Helios 500 is pretty fast) and choose to configure RAID via those two.
    @Unkn0wn1 - thanks. I’m not really interested in raid but was confused by a couple of posts in here that discussed having issues putting the OS on the 2.5 drive because of raid. I was considering the 256 version on the acer site and just wanted to make sure because I didn’t want to mess anything up. 
  • xapim
    xapim ACE Posts: 7,257 Pathfinder
    edited June 2019
    Mvchiato said:
    Unkn0wn1 said:
    Mvchiato said:
    Does the i7 version of this laptop come with the ssd raided? I’m thinking about buying it and have been looking at upgrade options - particularly the hdd to ssd and having the OS on the new SSD and wanted to know if that would be a problem. I don’t know much about laptops and upgrading besides what I’ve learned from watching hours of laptop/pc videos on YouTube.
    There are a few different configurations of the i7-8750H version, but the most common one has a 512GB NVME SSD + 1TB SSD. So no RAID out-of-the-box, but you can always add a second NVME SSD (the one that comes with the Helios 500 is pretty fast) and choose to configure RAID via those two.
    @Unkn0wn1 - thanks. I’m not really interested in raid but was confused by a couple of posts in here that discussed having issues putting the OS on the 2.5 drive because of raid. I was considering the 256 version on the acer site and just wanted to make sure because I didn’t want to mess anything up. 
    Raid will only work with drives with the same size and same specs/form factor for ex m.2 with m.2 will not work with m.2 and normal hdd and if the sizes are not the same it will usually assume the smallest there are loads of cases here where the users were prompted to setup the raid and lost access to the 1tb hdd became hidden and unusable


    https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/11532543

    UserBenchmarks: Game 43%, Desk 61%, Work 40%
    CPU: Intel Core i5-7300HQ - 63.5%
    GPU: Nvidia GTX 1050-Ti (Mobile) - 41.9%
    SSD: WDC WDS200T2B0B-00YS70 2TB - 71.4%
    HDD: WD WD10SPZX-00HKTT0 1TB - 93.7%
    RAM: Kingston HyperX DDR4 2666 C15 2x16GB - 76.8%
    MBD: Acer Predator G3-572

    I'm not an Acer employee. (just here to help in the best way i can)
    If my answer fixed you issue please accept it for any other users who search for it would find it quickly thanks :)
    If you want to learn more about undervolting/optimizing windows join the Predator fb group and youtube channel:

    Owner/Admin (HOTEL HERO/Red-Sand/Opoka Opoka)
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/PredatorHelios300
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNJwGUHxSJ8FKqAhnOqQuAw
    Acer support:
    https://www.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/service-contact
    http://www.acer.com/worldwide/support/  


  • Mvchiato
    Mvchiato Member Posts: 6

    Tinkerer

    edited June 2019
    @xapim that makes sense. So I’m planning on switching out the 2.5 in hdd with a 1tb ssd. Are there any precautions i need to take so that I don’t actually set the hdd up in raid on first boot? Or is this something that isn’t really possible to do unintentionally? 

    Also do you know what the process of moving the os onto the new 2.5 ssd would entail? And sorry for all of the questions. I’m still working on becoming well versed in the art of laptops and pc’s but I’m not quite there yet. 
  • xapim
    xapim ACE Posts: 7,257 Pathfinder
    edited June 2019
    ignore the intel rst advices to setup raid or uninstall it if you dont need it regarding cloning you can use easeus partition masted to clone any drive into another one just for curiosity you have the OS in your 2.5hdd ???you dont have an m.2 ssd ???


    https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/11532543

    UserBenchmarks: Game 43%, Desk 61%, Work 40%
    CPU: Intel Core i5-7300HQ - 63.5%
    GPU: Nvidia GTX 1050-Ti (Mobile) - 41.9%
    SSD: WDC WDS200T2B0B-00YS70 2TB - 71.4%
    HDD: WD WD10SPZX-00HKTT0 1TB - 93.7%
    RAM: Kingston HyperX DDR4 2666 C15 2x16GB - 76.8%
    MBD: Acer Predator G3-572

    I'm not an Acer employee. (just here to help in the best way i can)
    If my answer fixed you issue please accept it for any other users who search for it would find it quickly thanks :)
    If you want to learn more about undervolting/optimizing windows join the Predator fb group and youtube channel:

    Owner/Admin (HOTEL HERO/Red-Sand/Opoka Opoka)
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/PredatorHelios300
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNJwGUHxSJ8FKqAhnOqQuAw
    Acer support:
    https://www.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/service-contact
    http://www.acer.com/worldwide/support/  


  • Mvchiato
    Mvchiato Member Posts: 6

    Tinkerer

    @xapim the one I’m ordering has the OS on the 256 ssd. And has the 1tb hdd In addition. I was possibly planning to swap the 1tb hdd with and ssd and put the os on there but I’m still researching the best configuration for my personal needs in regards to that. It will be here soon and I just wanted to make sure I don’t mess everything up when I power it in for the first time. 
  • xapim
    xapim ACE Posts: 7,257 Pathfinder
    edited June 2019
    Mvchiato personally i wouldnt move the OS into the 2.5 drive it will be a bit slower even on an ssd the sata port has less performance than the m.2 what i did was i upgraded my m.2 to 2tb (cloned the 128gb ssd into my 2tb) still have the original 1tb hdd and also have an external 5tb 2.5 drive in an 10gbps usb 3.0/usb-c enclosure and also upgraded my ram to 32gb hyperx 2666



    https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/11532543

    UserBenchmarks: Game 43%, Desk 61%, Work 40%
    CPU: Intel Core i5-7300HQ - 63.5%
    GPU: Nvidia GTX 1050-Ti (Mobile) - 41.9%
    SSD: WDC WDS200T2B0B-00YS70 2TB - 71.4%
    HDD: WD WD10SPZX-00HKTT0 1TB - 93.7%
    RAM: Kingston HyperX DDR4 2666 C15 2x16GB - 76.8%
    MBD: Acer Predator G3-572

    I'm not an Acer employee. (just here to help in the best way i can)
    If my answer fixed you issue please accept it for any other users who search for it would find it quickly thanks :)
    If you want to learn more about undervolting/optimizing windows join the Predator fb group and youtube channel:

    Owner/Admin (HOTEL HERO/Red-Sand/Opoka Opoka)
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/PredatorHelios300
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNJwGUHxSJ8FKqAhnOqQuAw
    Acer support:
    https://www.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/service-contact
    http://www.acer.com/worldwide/support/  


  • Mvchiato
    Mvchiato Member Posts: 6

    Tinkerer

    @xapim thanks. I didn’t know about it being slower if I moved it onto the 2.5 drive. And to do the cloning I would use the easeus partition that you mentioned above? Thanks for all of your help.
  • xapim
    xapim ACE Posts: 7,257 Pathfinder
    Mvchiato said:
    @xapim thanks. I didn’t know about it being slower if I moved it onto the 2.5 drive. And to do the cloning I would use the easeus partition that you mentioned above? Thanks for all of your help.
    Mvchiato personally i always used Easeus never had any issues but there are other cloning softwares


    https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/11532543

    UserBenchmarks: Game 43%, Desk 61%, Work 40%
    CPU: Intel Core i5-7300HQ - 63.5%
    GPU: Nvidia GTX 1050-Ti (Mobile) - 41.9%
    SSD: WDC WDS200T2B0B-00YS70 2TB - 71.4%
    HDD: WD WD10SPZX-00HKTT0 1TB - 93.7%
    RAM: Kingston HyperX DDR4 2666 C15 2x16GB - 76.8%
    MBD: Acer Predator G3-572

    I'm not an Acer employee. (just here to help in the best way i can)
    If my answer fixed you issue please accept it for any other users who search for it would find it quickly thanks :)
    If you want to learn more about undervolting/optimizing windows join the Predator fb group and youtube channel:

    Owner/Admin (HOTEL HERO/Red-Sand/Opoka Opoka)
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/PredatorHelios300
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNJwGUHxSJ8FKqAhnOqQuAw
    Acer support:
    https://www.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/service-contact
    http://www.acer.com/worldwide/support/  


  • Red-Sand
    Red-Sand ACE Posts: 1,892 Pathfinder
    If you don't want RAID by default disable it in the BIOs.
    - Hotel Hero
  • Laptop_Gaming
    Laptop_Gaming Member Posts: 5

    Tinkerer

    edited June 2019
    Thanks for Review XXXXX.

    [Post edited to remove inappropriate or personal content -Acer-Manny]

  • mikeyjames
    mikeyjames Member Posts: 50 Devotee WiFi Icon
    Red-Sand said:

    Hey
    brother.

    Basically you just install XTU (Intel Extreme Tuning Utility) and then navigate to the folder I listed in the review and open each profile one at a time (which opens in XTU)..................................


    Then just reboot your system and you're done. 👍
    Hey @Red-Sand
    Wasn't sure whether to start a new thread or post here and not sure if you can really help, but thought I'd have a shot.

    The Normal.xtu profile I made using your advice with the turbo settings and an undervolt of 0.145 was working great until recently. It had been set and forgotten and never an issue.

    A couple of weeks ago my Predator Sense got updated via a Windows  .appxbundle to version 3.0.3120.0 (the .exe reports 3.0.119.0). I only found this out by accident when PredaorSense on my Helios 500 at the office stopped working and I was trying to troubleshoot why my home laptop didn't have the issue, only to find they had different versions (still no idea why one updated and the other didn't).

    I then noticed when PS updated it must have set the normal.xtu profile back to default values, so I simply swapped them for Turbo with the undervolt again with a copy I had saved. At first boot it did nothing, with XTU reporting default 'Normal' settings. I then overwrote normal.xtu with a fresh export from Intel XTU and all seemed fine.

    A couple of boots later we are back to default 'Normal' again. After about three attempts to overwrite Normal.xtu and reboot the Turbo/undervolted values seemed to be sticking again.

    A couple of boots later and the Turbo settings seemed to stick but the undervolt didn't (XTU reported Voltage Offset as zero). I went through the same process and once again it worked for a while then the Voltage Offset was set to zero again.

    I played around and even tried playing with the Power Boost Time Window by setting it to 32 just to test if it would stick. Everything sticks - Power Max = 56.750W, Short Power Max = 75.000W, IccMax = 255.750A, and Time Window = 32 seconds -but the Voltage Offset, for some reason, always ends back at zero after the few boots.

    There have been no bios updates. I have tried uninstalling PredatorSesnse and going back to the version available on the Acer download site. I have uninstalled and re-installed Intel XTU. I have even done a system restore.

    There seems to be something going on that's beyond me and wondering if someone has an idea what it could be?

    Thanks
    Mick

  • mankvl
    mankvl Member Posts: 51 Devotee WiFi Icon
    @mikeyjames set all 3 predator sense xtu profiles to same undervolt, I noticed that when wanted to make normal - 1.6 but max -1.5. Normal was always reseted to 0 after changing from max to normal in predatorsense. 
This discussion has been closed.